U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
U.S. EMBASSY RABAT

Notice of Funding Opportunity

Funding Opportunity Title:  “NASA Space Apps Challenge Hackathon” Cooperative Agreement 2020

Funding Opportunity Number:  PAS-MOROCCO-FY20-05

Date of Posting Award: April 07, 2020

Deadline for Applications: May 10, 2020

CFDA Number:  19.040

Total Amount Available: $30,000 – $40,000

Number of Awards: One

1. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The U.S. Mission in Morocco’s Public Affairs Office is pleased to announce its “NASA Space Apps Challenge Hackathon” open competition for awarding a cooperative agreement. The Public Affairs Office invites proposals from Moroccan or American non-profit organizations operating in Morocco to organize a three-day hackathon scheduled to take place October 2 – 4, 2020.  The awardee will work in close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy to plan and execute this program.

Now in its 9th year, the NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon for coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists, and others in cities around the world.  Teams engage with NASA’s free and open data to address real-world problems on earth and in space.  For more details about the NASA challenges and team projects, please see the official website for last year’s hackathon: https://2019.spaceappschallenge.org/.

The Public Affairs Office invites proposals from eligible organizations to plan and implement this year’s hackathon, working closely with the U.S. Embassy and liaising with the NASA global organizers, to include the following activities:

• Design and implement a national outreach plan to recruit and select between 60-70 hackathon participants.  The target audience is Moroccans ages 18 – 30; participants could include coders, engineers, software developers, scientists, designers, artists, videographers, and entrepreneurs.

• Plan, organize, and implement a pre-Hackathon meet up event for participants, which could take place in-person, virtually, or as a combination of both.  Identify and secure the participation of at least three local experts and scientists, including at least one data expert, to brief participants on the hackathon challenge themes, and inspire participants in their brainstorming.

• Plan, organize, and implement the three-day hackathon, including arranging the travel of between 60 and 70 participants; managing the logistics of registration and check-in; providing lodging, food, and beverages for participants over the course of the three-day event;  and planning and directing set-up of the hackathon venue (to be selected in consultation with the U.S. Embassy). 

• Develop a detailed schedule of hackathon events that advance the project’s stated objectives, while facilitating the participants in devising creative solutions to the hackathon challenges. 

• Identify, recruit, and manage the travel of at least five local experts to offer short workshops and demos on day one of the hackathon, and serve as mentors on day two.  Assist in incorporating an American expert, identified by the U.S. Embassy, into the program as a presenter and mentor.  Identify, recruit, and manage the travel of up to five local experts (separate from the mentors) to judge the participants’ projects during the pitch competition on the final day of the hackathon.

• Work closely with the Embassy on a social media plan to help promote the hackathon among target audiences online.

• Identify and procure appropriate prizes for hackathon project winners.  Provide support to the hackathon winners who submit their projects to NASA’s Space Apps Challenge for global judging, including facilitating their creation of a short video describing their project.

Each proposal should describe how the Hackathon meets the following objectives:

• Encourage young Moroccans to deepen their knowledge of advances in space, science, and technology, while promoting U.S. leadership in in these fields.

• Promote entrepreneurship among Moroccan youth and provide them with training (based on U.S. models) and experience in developing and pitching project ideas.

• Instill and strengthen a commitment to innovation and risk-taking among Moroccan youth.

• Provide a forum for Moroccan youth to strengthen their teamwork and leadership skills.

• Encourage the participation of Moroccan women, thus helping break gender barriers.

1. GUIDELINES:

• Proposals must include a sample schedule for the three-day hackathon, which should include introductory presentations and briefings by experts on day one, project development on day two, and a project pitch competition on day three.

• Proposals should describe how they will form competition teams to include a balance of skill sets, as well as the objectives and overall plan for a pre-hackathon meet-up program.

• Proposals must include a monitoring and evaluation plan that describes how results will be measured.

• Proposals must contain details on how to recruit hackathon participants and local experts; how to amplify the hackathon on social media, and a description of how the hackathon will meet the objectives above. 

• The cooperative agreement will cover funding for organizing and obtaining a venue for the pre-event meetup; renting the venue selected by the Embassy for the hackathon; procuring any materials necessary for use in hackathon activities; lodging, food and beverages for the hackathon participants; staffing to manage the logistics of the event; and promoting the hackathon among relevant communities. The cooperative agreement will also cover funding for prizes for hackathon pitch competition winners.

• Awardees must be prepared to design and implement surveys, polls, or other methods for evaluating the impact of the hackathon at three distinct time periods: prior to its launch, at the end of the hackathon, and six months after the completion of the hackathon. 

• Equipment cannot account for more than 10% of the total project cost, unless the awardee receives prior approval from the U.S. Embassy.

• Awards will be conferred to Moroccan non-profit organizations or U.S. non-profit organizations with an established office in Morocco and that already have a final registration receipt and an established bank account at the time that they apply.
• All applicants must submit their proposals to the U.S. Embassy Rabat by May 10, 2020 to this email address Rabatgrants@state.gov – no late proposals will be considered. The proposal package must include :

1- Applicant Organizational Information Form (in English)

2- Project Narrative Form (in English)

3- Budget Narrative Proposal (in USD)

4- Evaluation and measurement plan (in English)

• All applicants will be notified of funding decisions within six weeks of the application deadline subject to the availability of funds. C. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION
  
• Number of awards anticipated: One.
• Type of Funding: FY20 Smith-Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds
• Approximate award amount: The amount may range from a minimum of $30,000 to a maximum of $40,000. Projects for lesser or greater values will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Funding may be renewed for up to an additional two years on a non-competitive basis pending successful performance and availability of funds.
• All applicants must have the following registrations: (please see guidance at the end of the document)
  1. Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
  2. NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code; and
  3. System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (If you have applied and have not yet received the registration number, provide proof of application).

Eligible applicants include Moroccan non-profit organizations or U.S. non-profit organizations with an established office in Morocco.

Funding Instrument Type:  Cooperative Agreement. The Public Affairs Office will be actively involved in the award implementation. U.S. Embassy staff will:

• Identify, contact, and fund the travel and lodging for one U.S.-based expert to participate as a presenter and judge.  Assist in identifying and contacting alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to serve as potential speakers or judges.
• Review and approve proposed schedules for the pre-event meet-up and for the hackathon itself.
• Review and approve selection criteria and recruitment materials for the hackathon participants.
• Review and approve the participation of proposed local experts and judges.
• Initiate and participate in hackathon promotional activities, to include promotion of the hackathon through the U.S. Mission to Morocco’s social media platforms and media engagements.
• Review and approve surveys.

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

1. Eligibility Requirements:

All applicants must have the following registrations:

• Dun and Bradstreet (D&B) Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number;
• NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) code; and
• System for Award Management (SAM.gov) (If you have applied and have not yet received the registration number, provide proof of application).

Please apply for the D&B DUNS Number and NCAGE Code at the same time to reduce waiting time of information.  The Legal Business Name and Address must MATCH EXACTLY when entering it into the D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov websites – this includes spaces, parentheses, capitalization, small letters, punctuation, etc.  Self-registration in D&B DUNS, NCAGE, and SAM.gov is free of charge.

1. DUN & BRADSTREET (D&B) DUNS/UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER (UEI) NUMBER

The DUNS/UEI number is a nine-digit number established and assigned by Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. (D&B) to uniquely identify business entities.

Log onto the D&B website at http://fedgov.dnb.com/webform/searchAction.do

For assistance, contact D&B at the following email address: SAMHelp@dnb.com

While acquiring the D&B DUNS/UEI Number, please register to receive an NCAGE Code Number with NCS at the same time.  See instructions below. Step by step information is also included here (Word – 567 KB).

1. NATO COMMERCIAL AND GOVERNMENT ENTITY (NCAGE) CODE

NATO Commercial and Government Entity (NCAGE) codes are required for all foreign entities to create an account in SAM.gov.  The Code is a five-character ID number, and can take, at a minimum, 4-5 business days to create.

Steps to register: (Please use the Internet Explorer web browser)

Foreign registrants must log into: CAGE Code Request at https://eportal.nspa.nato.int/AC135Public/scage/CageList.aspx

Once in the NATO Codification Tools website, scroll to the right-hand corner and click the “Magnifying Glass.” The magnifying glass will open a new page.

Scroll down the right-hand side until you see “Request New,” click on this link and it will take you to the next page to apply for an NCAGE Code Number.

When asked if the entity to be registered is a supranational organization please click “No” (if you are not part of a member state).

Validate the newly assigned NCAGE Code via the Business Identification Number Cross- Reference System (BINCS) at https://www.dlis.dla.mil/bincs/begin_search.aspx.

If the assigned NCAGE is not listed in BINCS, the recipient should call 001-269-961-4623 or send a message to NCAGE@NSPA.NATO.INT.

For assistance by telephone, please call: 1-888-227-2423 (inside the U.S.) OR 001-269-961-7766 (outside the U.S.).  E-mail NCAGE@dlis.dla.mil for any problems in obtaining an NCAGE code.

1. SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM.gov): (Please use either the Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox web browser)

SAM is a U.S.-government wide registry of vendors doing business with the U.S. federal government and requires annual renewal.  The system centralizes information about grant applicants/recipients, and provides them with a central location to change their organizational information.  More information about SAM.gov and useful guides for setting-up a new account, updating an existing account, or renewing an expired account can be found at: https://statebuy.state.gov/fa/Pages/SAMInfo.aspx.

Please complete ALL of the above steps before attempting to register in SAM.

• Log onto https://www.sam.gov
• If you have had an active record in The Central Contractor Registration (CCR), you may already have an active record in SAM. To check for an active registration, please conduct a “search” for your record using the organization name and/or DUNS Number in SAM.  If you are not registered, your organization or entity will not be found.
• If your organization does not have an active registration, you must create a user account and input all information in the exact manner as you have for the IRS, D&B DUNS, and NCAGE.
• Complete and submit the online form.

If the applying organization already has the necessary information on hand (see the SAM User Guide), the online form takes approximately one hour to complete, depending upon the size and complexity of the applying entity.  Because of the different steps in the process, it might take anywhere from three to fourteen business days to complete the process of creating an account with the system.

If you encounter any error, please contact the SAM Federal Service Desk to report problem at https://www.fsd.gov/clients.  There is a standard (not toll free) number that customers can use 334-206-7828.

D. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

1. Criteria

Each application will be evaluated and rated on the basis of the evaluation criteria outlined below.

Quality of the Hackathon Agenda:  The activities for each day of the hackathon are well developed, with detail about how they will be carried out. Goals and objectives are clearly stated and program outline is likely to provide maximum impact in achieving the proposed results. (20 points)

Strength of Recruitment: The proposal provides a clear strategy for promoting the hackathon to young (18 – 30) coders, engineers, software developers, scientists, designers, artists, videographers, and entrepreneurs and/or other communities that the grantee proposes are relevant to the goals of the hackathon (10 pts).  The proposal demonstrates a clear plan for evaluating and selecting Moroccan participants (10 pts). The proposal demonstrates a commitment to gender equality (10 pts). (30 points total)

Promotion Plan: The proposal contains details about amplification of the hackathon on social media.  (10 points)

Organizational Capacity and Record on Previous Grants/Program Implementation: The organization has expertise in its stated field and has the internal controls in place to manage federal funds.  This includes a financial management system and a bank account. (10 points)

U.S. Component:  The proposal demonstrates the ability to incorporate a U.S.-based expert identified by the U.S. Embassy to participate as a presenter and judge.  The proposal demonstrates that the grantee will work with the Embassy to incorporate alumni of U.S. government exchange programs to serve as potential speakers or judges. (10 points)

Budget: The budget justification is detailed.  Costs are reasonable in relation to the proposed activities and anticipated results. The budget is realistic, accounting for all necessary expenses to achieve proposed activities. (10 points)

Monitoring and evaluation plan: Applicant demonstrates it is able to measure program success against key indicators and provides milestones to indicate progress toward goals outlined in the proposal. The program includes output and outcome indicators, and shows how and when those will be measured. (10 points)

1. Review and Selection Process

The Public Affairs Office will evaluate all eligible applications.  The evaluation process will consist of two stages.  First, a technical review will be completed to ensure that proposals and organizations meet the criteria set forth above.  Second, a Grant Review Committee comprised of personnel from the U.S. Mission in Morocco will evaluate eligible proposals on the basis of the criteria identified above. 

F. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

• 1. Federal Award Notices

The grant award or cooperative agreement will be written, signed, awarded, and administered by the Grants Officer. The assistance award agreement is the authorizing document and it will be provided to the recipient for review and signature by email. The recipient may only start incurring program expenses beginning on the start date shown on the grant award document signed by the Grants Officer.

If a proposal is selected for funding, the Department of State has no obligation to provide any additional future funding. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the discretion of the Department of State.

Issuance of this NOFO does not constitute an award commitment on the part of the U.S. government, nor does it commit the U.S. government to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals. Further, the U.S. government reserves the right to reject any or all proposals received.

• 1. Administrative and National Policy Requirements

Terms and Conditions: Before submitting an application, applicants should review all the terms and conditions and required certifications which will apply to this award, to ensure that they will be able to comply.  These include:

2 CFR 200, 2 CFR 600, Certifications and Assurances, and the Department of State Standard Terms and Conditions, all of which are available at:  https://www.statebuy.state.gov/fa/pages/home.aspx

Note the U.S Flag branding and marking requirements in the Standard Terms and Conditions. 

• 1. Reporting

Reporting Requirements: Recipients will be required to submit financial reports and program reports.  The award document will specify how often these reports must be submitted.  

G. OTHER INFORMATION

Guidelines for Budget Justification

Personnel and Fringe Benefits: Describe the wages, salaries, and benefits of temporary or permanent staff who will be working directly for the applicant on the program, and the percentage of their time that will be spent on the program.

Travel: Estimate the costs of travel and per diem for this program, for program staff, consultants or speakers, and participants/beneficiaries. If the program involves international travel, include a brief statement of justification for that travel.

Equipment: Describe any machinery, furniture, or other personal property that is required for the program, which has a useful life of more than one year (or a life longer than the duration of the program), and costs at least $5,000 per unit.

Supplies: List and describe all the items and materials, including any computer devices, that are needed for the program. If an item costs more than $5,000 per unit, then put it in the budget under Equipment.

Contractual: Describe goods and services that the applicant plans to acquire through a contract with a vendor.  Also describe any sub-awards to non-profit partners that will help carry out the program activities.

Other Direct Costs: Describe other costs directly associated with the program, which do not fit in the other categories. For example, shipping costs for materials and equipment or applicable taxes. All “Other” or “Miscellaneous” expenses must be itemized and explained.

Indirect Costs:  These are costs that cannot be linked directly to the program activities, such as overhead costs needed to help keep the organization operating.  If your organization has a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate (NICRA) and includes NICRA charges in the budget, attach a copy of your latest NICRA. Organizations that have never had a NICRA may request indirect costs of 10% of the modified total direct costs as defined in 2 CFR 200.68. 

“Cost Sharing” refers to contributions from the organization or other entities other than the U.S. Embassy.   It also includes in-kind contributions such as volunteers’ time and donated venues.

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By U.S. Embassy Rabat | 9 April, 2020 | Topics: News